Australia's Governor-General

Northern Advocate, 1 February 1947, Page 4

Australia's Governor-General

Tiie appointment of Mr W. J. McKell, Premier of New South Wales, as Governor-General of Australia, is announced today. This announcement will end speculation rife in Australia for some time, though close observers have been convinced that, despite refusals to release information, the Federal Government intended to recommend His Majesty the King to approve the appointment of Mr McKell. Though His Majesty was not bound to approve the Federal Government’s recommendation, refusal to do so would have been so contrary to the democratic principles upon which the Empire is based that such action was ruled out. While speculation has been put to rest, controversy will persist, for the appointment of Mr McKell will be resented by a large section of Australian people.

This resentment will not be due to the fact that a Labour supporter lias been appointed, but to the fact that the highest office in the land was ottered by a Labour Government to a strong Labour man actively engaged in politics at the time of his appointment. The same resent ment would na justified if an anti-Labour Government recommended for appointment as Governor-General a strong member of its party who was actively engaged in party politics.

The Governor-General of Australia should be a man of eminence not prominently associated with any political party, especially a party in power at the time his appointment was made. However tolerant or broadminded an observer may be, he cannot escape the conviction that the Federal Government has affronted the dignity and aloofness from partisanship which should mark the highest office in the Commonwealth. There cannot be avoided regret that the Governor-Generalship should have been given the semblance of a political plum, for no matter how ably Mr McKell may fill his high office—and his character and ability are not questioned—there will exist suspicion that his appointment was made as reward for party service over a long period of years. There will occur to most people names of men who have given distinguished service to the Empire in peace and war who might well have been selected to fill the lofty position to which Mr McKell has been appointed. The choice of one of these men—who include probably more than one Australian—would have enhanced the reputation of the Federal Government and, we are convinced, contributed to the unity of the people of the Commonwealth and the prestige of the Governor-Geheralship.